Papaya - useful properties and contraindications

The domestic market has recently been able to offer an abundance of tropical fruits. On the shelves, papaya solemnly took its place - a delicious and healing fruit that resembles a melon. Absolutely everything is useful in it - skin, pulp, seeds and even leaves.

Of course, a cautious person will not immediately risk trying an unknown fruit. Despite the proven benefits, papaya can not be consumed by everyone and only in limited quantities.

Chemical composition

On the market, papaya is presented in a very different way: fresh fruit, jam, candied fruit, jams and so on. The raw option is most useful, since it contains a maximum of useful components:

• B, C, D, E vitamins, as well as beta-carotene;
• dietary fiber - almost 2 g per 100 g of product;
• ash;
• salicylic acid;
• fibrin;
• enzymes (e.g. papain, arginine, carpain);
• caricaxanthin (gives the fruit an orange color);
• antioxidants (lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein);
• mineral compounds (phosphorus, iron, zinc, calcium, silicon, sodium, potassium, chlorine and others).

The fruit is ideally suited for dietary nutrition, as it is almost 90% water. The composition also includes carbohydrates (up to 8 g per 100 g of product), proteins and fats in a small amount, fiber. The total calorie content is about 40 kcal.

The tropical fruit is unique precisely thanks to the plant enzyme papain, which composition resembles the hydrochloric acid of the stomach. During digestion, the substance actively breaks down proteins, starches and lipids. Often, papaya is introduced into the diet for people who have a pathology of independent protein breakdown.

Other enzymes affect the cardiovascular system, stabilize the number of contractions per minute, strengthen the muscle, normalize blood pressure. Together with potassium, they increase the tone of the vascular walls, cleanse them of atherosclerotic plaques and restore blood flow.

Plant fibrin is similar in properties to the component that provides blood coagulation. Papaya is needed to recover from serious injuries and operations. Women should eat fruit before and after childbirth to prevent the risk of bleeding and complications.

Ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that cleanses the body of toxins, metabolites, radionuclides, metal salts, and also prevents the development of malignant processes. Vitamin C models immunity, increases its resistance against colds, pathogenic microflora (viruses, infection, bacteria, parasites).

Beta-carotene, which contains excess papaya, strengthens the optic nerve and restores visual acuity. It also positively affects the condition of the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A is responsible for the health of internal organs, reduces the risk of calculus deposits.

Vitamin E is actively involved in metabolism, has a positive effect on the nervous system. It is believed that an adequate level of this component prevents oncology of the prostate and bladder.

Useful properties of papaya

A valuable tropical fruit is especially pleasant to be treated, because it is also so tasty and juicy. Regular use of papaya allows you to achieve the following effects.

1. Clean the gastrointestinal tract from poisons, metabolic products, toxins and cholesterol. Plant fibers adsorb harmful substances without disturbing the natural microflora of the stomach and intestines. Fresh from papaya destroys infections and pathogens in the intestines, promotes the healing of microcracks, ulcers and inflammations.
2. Prevent blood clots. The fruit strengthens blood vessels and heart muscle, cleans the walls of cholesterol and atherosclerotic deposits, which ensures normal blood circulation and neutralizes congestion. Papaya regulates blood coagulation and prevents increased thrombosis.
3. Reduce the pain. Due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, the fetus reduces pain from skeletal diseases (osteoporosis, arthritis, osteochondrosis), intestinal colic, migraine.
4. Destroy the parasites. Papaya has long been used as a remedy for worms, amoebas, giardia and salmonella.
5. Strengthen the musculoskeletal system. Fruit enzymes help build up the connective tissue of the intervertebral disc, which reduces the manifestations of osteochondrosis, hernias and displacements.
6. Reduce the acidity of the stomach. The papaya enzyme alkalizes the gastric juice, lowering the acidity of the medium. At the same time, digestion and peristalsis are improved. This property helps to get rid of heartburn, reduce the manifestations of gastritis and ulcers.
7. Increase insulin secretion. This component, in turn, lowers glucose levels, which is very important for patients with diabetes and gestational diabetes.
8. Clean the kidneys and reduce swelling. Raw papaya is an excellent diuretic, which allows you to remove toxins from the kidneys, clean the urinary ducts, and also remove excess water from the body. As a result, the pressure drops to a healthy mark, and generalized edema resolves.
9. Reduce body temperature. Papaya can be given to children at elevated temperatures, as the fruit has an antipyretic property due to salicylic acid.
10. Reduce the risk of oncology. If in a family history there were cases of cancer of the colon, stomach, lungs, prostate, bladder and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract, then papaya must be in the diet. A significant amount of antioxidants allows you to fight with benign and malignant tumors, inhibit their development and proliferation.
11. Heal skin lesions. The pulp and peel can be used as a local therapeutic agent (applications, compresses, home masks). Thanks to salicylic acid, antioxidants and vitamins A, E, papaya heals wounds, ulcers, erosions, punctures, pustular lesions, pimples and dermatitis of various nature. It also promotes rapid tissue regeneration in case of burns and frostbite. Juice can be used to reduce discomfort after being bitten by insects or poisonous snakes.
12. Improve the look. Local application of the fruit allows you to get rid of age-related pigment areas, freckles, spots after burns. The pulp is used for home scrubbing and exfoliation of the dead epidermis. At the same time, vitamins perfectly tone and moisturize the young skin.
13. Remove excess hair. Beauticians all over the world use papaya masks to remove unwanted hair. Organic acids of the tropical fruit destroy keratin and slow down the development of hair follicles, so new hairs grow longer and paler. It is noteworthy that the pulp demonstrates the depilatory properties only when applied topically. Eating, on the contrary, helps to strengthen the hair and nail plate.
14. Improve the diet of infants. Soft and satisfying papaya is very well absorbed by the stomach, therefore it is ideal for the first feeding of the baby. Thanks to calcium, it strengthens the skeletal bone and cartilage, contributing to the normal growth and physical development of the child. Vitamins B have a positive effect on the brain and central nervous system, improve memory and concentration, fine motor skills.
15. Restore vision. Vitamin A and other valuable components inhibit the aging of the lens and prevent macular degeneration of the retina.

Contraindications

Despite all the benefits and dietary value of papaya, it can not be consumed in some medical cases.

1. An allergy to yellow and orange fruits, vegetables is a strict contraindication. If a history of allergies to carrots, persimmons and melons was observed, eating fruit is prohibited. In other cases, enter the diet carefully, starting with one slice per day. If a rash, fever, swelling of the mucous membranes, lacrimation, etc., stop taking the fetus.
2. It is forbidden to eat papaya and people with calculi in the bladder and kidneys, diseases of the excretory system.
3. It is not recommended to abuse fruit in patients with severe bleeding disorders.
4. It is important to remember that even a seemingly normal fruit may be unripe. In this case, the papaya juice turns into poison, as it contains the alkaloid caripain. It provokes severe food allergies, intoxication, prolonged diarrhea, acute pain in the stomach. It is not difficult to identify such juice - squeeze the pulp and pay attention to the color. In a ripe fruit, nectar is white and dense, and in an unripe, it is watery and colorless.

Tropical papaya, surprisingly, has far fewer contraindications and adverse reactions than many local fruits and vegetables. Be careful when choosing a fruit and purchase only from trusted suppliers.

Video: the benefits and harms of papayas